Avifaunal assemblages within fresh and saltwater resources around a national park; the case of Lake Munyanyange, Lake Edward, and Kazinga Channel in Southwestern Uganda

Abstract Background Birds play a critical role in sustaining global ecosystems as well as human livelihoods. Despite this value, their populations are declining at unprecedented rates with anthropogenic factors being the main driver. Local monitoring strategies provides data for enhancing monitoring activities while designing conservation interventions. Herein, we present preliminary results from bird monitoring activities undertaken within fresh and salt water sites in Southwestern parts of Uganda. Methods Point count method was used during the survey. This included recording of birds seen and or heard from within 100 m radius. This was done periodically (every 10 minutes) in the morning and evening along a transect and birds were identified using identification keys. Diversity indices were computed for the data and One-Way ANOVA was used to compute the differences in counts across different sites. Post-Hoc analysis was computed using Tukey’s HSD test. All analyses were done in R software. Results A total of 7476 individuals of birds of 68 different species were recorded during the 558 observations made across the different sites. The freshwater lakes had the highest bird diversity and abundance with Kazinga Channel inside the park scoring the highest (H' = 2.211). Ceryle rudis (29%, n= 7476) had the highest number of individuals followed by Ploceus melanocephalus. The choice of the different sites by the birds did not vary across Lake Edward and Kazinga Channel (P =0.852). Meanwhile for these sites in comparison with Lake Munyanyange, there was a significant difference in being chosen by the birds i.e. P = 0.009 and P = 0.015 respectively. All these lakes had migratory birds that fly across national boundaries Conclusion There is a high diversity of birds around salt and fresh water sites in Southwestern Uganda. This includes migratory bird species. Conservation interventions thus ought to be designed targeting these selected sites to enhance stability of bird populations across different scales. This can be done with improved data generated through monitoring activities.